I ran into Mikee Huber at Front Street, Dayton’s largest community of artists and artisans. I asked her for a photo and a short interview. Mikee posed in front of some work by Mike Elsass. I thought that was fitting because the first paintings I ever saw by Mikee reminded me of some of Mike’s work.
That was my “Controlled Chaos” series” Mikee told me, “where I used oil paints that flowed into each other. I painted those with my hand. To many viewers they seemed completely abstract but they were inspired by things I had seen at work – microscopic views of aerospace materials during testing.”
I also remembered seeing some of Mikee’s work that was geometric – completely different from the first work I had seen. I asked if those pieces related to maps of various locations.
“That’s my connection series. I was trying to use vibrant colors and intersecting lines to show the diversity of urban life and the bonds that tie individuals and communities together.”
“My website (https://mikeehuber.square.site/) shows my different series. I like working in series, taking one idea and pushing it as far as I can, and then moving on to another idea, another series. Although I do find myself returning to some of the series again and again.”
“Friday, November 1 from 5-9pm I’m exhibiting a brand new series at The Betty Gallery at Front Street (1001 Second Street, B-C Door, Third Floor). It’s called “Finding My Way Downeast”. It features paintings inspired by my time as artist in residence in Maine. My work in Maine was made possible in part by an Artist Opportunity Grant funded by the Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District and administered by Culture Works.”
I asked Mikee if she could give me a preview of her show and she shared this piece.
“The title of this piece is a haiku, which will be printed on the back.”
peach and pink embrace,
water and sky dance in light–
where land meets the sea.
“You can see that this work is different from my other work, but there is one thing that’s similar. I’ve always made abstract paintings inspired by things I have seen. With my first series I was inspired by things seen through a microscope. Here the inspiration is things seen as I walked along the Maine seacoast.”
On her phone Mikee showed me a few other photos of works in her show. I asked about the red door.
“There was an actual door in the woods behind my studio in Maine. It was unattached to anything, just standing by itself in the woods. For days I walked past it and then I took the time to walk through. For some reason, walking through that door caused me to look at my surroundings differently and then to paint in a different way.” The title of this piece is
red door in the woods,
I step through, leaving behind
old plan–art unfolds.
Here’s one more
ocean’s vibrant dance–
clouds paint ripples on the sea,
nature’s vivid song.
I visited Mikee’s studio once when she was on Crane Street. I asked where her studio was today.
“Like a lot of artists, during Covid I created a studio in my home. It’s not as much space as I’d like, but we’re working on a plan to build a major addition. The new space would give me my dream studio. When it’s finished, which may be a few years off, you and your camera are invited.”
